Eagle Nest Rustic, Seattle

Fresh herbs spill from planters lining a walkway. The variety of plants used in each one adds interest, though using a single plant would work just as well.

3. Plant a container garden. Although grasses are much easier to maintain, if you really want flowers to brighten up your backyard, perennials are a safe bet. Although annuals do tend to do well in container gardens, they need to be replanted each year. Container gardens are great because they allow for a ton of versatility. You can mix various types of plants together (as long as they have the same water and sun needs) and avoid the issues that come with poor soil. Here a combination of herbs create a rich palette of texture and color.

Drip irrigation for outdoor plantings. Getting water to your plants with ease is very important.

Tall containers bring plants to a higher level, perfect for appreciating the often-subtle leaf variations on herbs and ideal for easy harvesting. Mix flowers in with the herbs to add color and interest, as was done here.Tip: Containers are best for growing mint. Plant it in your garden, and it will soon take over.

Repetitive lines of containers in gardens are usually planted in a very formal way, with clipped evergreens being the favorite.Here, though, the overall formality is broken by the clever use of mixing different herbs — rosemary, sage, thyme, oregano, etc. — in an irregular, informal planting. Not only is it decorative, but it also is the perfect spot for a herb garden, just outside the kitchen door.

Black ceramic containers in the same shape and size bring harmony to this collection of plantings. You can also create this effect with other plants, such as cacti, succulents, flowering annuals and ferns.More: Dare to Mix Things Up in the Landscape

The neutral colors, especially gray and green, we have seen here so far are part of the framework that holds the garden together. The same concept can apply to planters and containers. This mixture of edible herb plants, especially with the differing variegated foliage, feels cohesive — it might have been confused if brightly colored or patterned containers had been used.

Containers traditionally require a lot of work, including planting, repotting, feeding and watering. If planted containers are part of your design, try to use the largest you can, as a greater soil volume will reduce the frequency of watering needed.

Use glazed pots. Traditional terra-cotta pots go great in a Mediterranean edible garden but are a poor choice for a contemporary garden. Glazed pots, especially those with a tall, thin profile, fit the modernist look much better. Use them for herbs, vegetables or berry bushes.See how to grow a patio-perfect berry bush

Way to plant along house and at windows without dirt in ground and away from dogs.

don't like big pot with small plants

using herbs for some of the mass planting, aromatic when brushed passed and useful.

Idea for herb container garden.